A Chat with Family Mart (23.09.20)
Hailing from Austin, Texas, Family Mart is a trio of young gents who are making waves in the alt-rock/pop-rock music scene. After releasing their well-received single ‘For Eric”, Family Mart is back with their second single ‘My Anarcha-Feminist Crush’. We had a chance to speak with Mike Lee (the man behind the Family Mart madness) about the new single, future plans and teenage crushes.
OSR: Who or what inspires you to make music?
Lee: Not sure if there’s a singular answer to that. It might be a mix of narcissism and mortality. It’s so easy to feel insignificant, I think writing gives me some sense of self-worth. At the same time, I hope my music hits someone just as much as my favourite songs have hit me.
OSR: How did you decide on the band name Family Mart?
Lee: The three of us have all toured Japan multiple times in different bands, so when we chat about it our love for convenience stores there always comes up. It’s also kind of our homage to the amazing Japanese indie/noise/shoegaze scene there. Also, we thought Egg Salad Sandwich On White Bread was too long.
OSR: What can you tell us about ‘My Anarcha-Feminist Crush’?
Lee: The whole patriarchal system needs to go and anyone in support of that I am crushing for.
OSR: Do you feel this second single differs in sound from your debut single ‘For Eric’?
Lee: Definitely. I always want to make my guitars crunchier but I usually hold back. I went for it a little more here and really with the vision of making it even louder and noisier when we play it live.
OSR: What is your favourite lyric from ‘My Anarcha-Feminist Crush’ and why that lyric?
Lee: “I watch in awe as she destroys you and pins you on the wall, she turns to me and says she’ll never stop.” I am not a violent person but thinking about someone else pummeling the patriarch sounds so satisfying.
OSR: If you could change something about this single what would it be and why?
Lee: I will and forever always want to change my voice. It sucks, but I’ve made my peace with it.
OSR: Who has your teenage crush…that’s assuming you had one?
Lee: I had many because I was a creepy lonely kid, but Kathleen Hanna was probably my first.
OSR: Do you have any plans for new music?
Lee: We will have a new single coming out before the end of the year and hope to release an EP next year!
OSR: What is the most mischievous thing you have ever done and got away with?
Lee: I don’t really know, but I bet it has something to do with money. I’ll do anything for money.
OSR: What is your most annoying personality trait?
Lee: That I’m simultaneously self-deprecating yet also overly confident. Just pick one, you know?
OSR: What do you think is the best way to discover and support new artists?
Lee: The best way is friends. My friends Tom and Cindy have shown me so much great stuff over the years. If you have crappy friends and you’re lazy, Spotify’s Discover Weekly algorithm is pretty great. If you want to put in some effort, find blogs that have playlists with similar interests as you and tell your crappy friends about them!
Thanks to Mike Lee for chatting with us. Find out more about Family Mart on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
